Invalid-bed.



I 1%. 727,467. PATENTBD MAY 5, 190a. w. 0. SENNETT.

INVALID BED. APPLIUATION FILED 00118, 1902.

a sums-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

TPATENTED' MAY 5, 1903.

W. G. SENNETT. INVALID BED. APPLICATION FILED 0053.18, 1902.

3 SHBETSSH EBT 2.

N0 MODEL.

PATBNTED MAY 5, 1903;

WLC. DLNNETT. INVALID BED.

APPLIUATION FILED 0053.18, 1902. N0 MODEL 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I lg egfor.

U TATES PATENT Patented May 5, 1903.

FFICE.

INVALID-BED.

srncrrroarzou forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,467, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed October 18, 1902. Serial No. 127,867. (No model.)

which may be adjusted to a number of posi tions to form either a couch or chair or a reclining chair in which the back may be, lockedat any desired angle.

A further object of the invention is to construct a device of this character in which the patient may adjust thejbed to any desired position without assistance and automatically lock the same after adjustment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the supporting spring or springs, while extending continuously from the headboard to the footboard, may be properly bent without injury when the device is adjusted to position for use as a chair;

A still further object of the invention is to so constructand arrange the device as to permit of the adjustment of both the'headboard and the footboard to position for use as a table or reading-desk, as required.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the ad vantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Fignre l is a perspective view of an invalid -bed con. structed in accordance with my invention, the device being illustrated as adjusted to position for use as a reclining-chair. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same when adjusted to position for use as a bed or couch andillustrating the arrangement of the connecting-levers between the head and foot sections. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2,

. ing-bolt forholding thesarne position.

illustrating the position of the parts when adapted to position for use as a chair. Fig. 4is a detail view of the footboard-section when adjusted to position for use as a desk or table. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the headboard, illustrating the lock- Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The main supporting-frame comprises opposite horizontally-disposed bars 1, connected by cross-bars 2 and provided with suitable sup porting-legs 3, the structure being strengthsued by diagonal braces 4 extending between the cross-bars and the legs. Each of the side portions of the bed is formed of three members, comprising a central section 5, a head or back section 6, and a foot-section 7, the central member being firmly secured to the crossbars 1 and the other members being pivotally connected to said central member by hinges 8 or other suitable connecting devices. The outer ends of the head members 6 and the corresponding ends of the foot members 7 are connected by end rails 9, to which are socured the opposite ends of a supporting-spring 10, which in the present instance comprises a plurality of connected links, forming aflexible fabric, the opposite ends of the link fabric being connected to the end rails by tension-springs 12; When adjusted to position for use as a bed, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the fabric is stretched taut in the horizontal manner between the end rails with no crossbar or connection under the same to prevent free yielding movement under the weight of the occupant, the mattress being as comfortable and freely yielding as the spring-mat tresses in general use on beds or couches of ordinary construction.

To each 01": the head-sectionsfi is secureda depending bar 11, connected to a bracing-bar 13, which extends also to the head-section in order to hold the depending bar rigid, and the lower ends of the bars 11 are pivot-ally con nected by links 14 to a pair of bars 15, rigidly secured to the foot members 7 and arranged in truss-like form, as illustrated more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. At a point near the connection with the rigid bars 11 the links in horizontal 14 are connected by a cross-bar 16, from which extend winding chains or cords-18 to a roller or drum 19, having end spindles or gudgeons mounted in pivotal hearings in the members 1 of the rigid supporting-frame, the chains being turned around the drum some three or four times and their opposite ends being connected to the inner sides of the head member 6, while to prevent slipping of the chain an intermediate portion may be secured to the drum by a pin or screw 20. One end of the drum-spindle extends to the outside of the frame 1 and is provided with a handled operating-crank 21 within convenient reach of the patient and which may be turned to wind one portion of the chain or cord on the drum and unwind the opposite portion to move the head and foot sections in opposite directions, and the operation may be facilitated by the patient shifting his weight from the back to the foot section, or vice versa, in accordance with the position to which the bed is to be adjusted.

In order to lock thebed in its adjusted position, a notched locking-disk 22 is secured to one end of the drum, and at a point adjacent to the disk is pivoted a spring-pressed locking-pawl 23, adapted to engage the disknotches and hold the drum from revolving in either direction. At the outer end of the pawl is an arm 24, extended laterally to a point beyond the side of the frame and adapted to be engaged by one end of a lever 25, pivoted on a stud 26, projecting from the rigid portion of the supporting-frame. The opposite end of the lever 26 is connected to a flexible chain or cord 27, which extends to a fixed pin 28, the cord or chain being arranged within convenient reach of the right hand of the patient in either sitting or reclining position. When the cord or chain 27 is extended in a straight line between the lever and the pin 28, the spring of the locking-pawl is free to move into locking engagement with the notched disk 22; but when it is desired to release the pawl the intermediate portion of the chain is depressed and forced under a pin or stud 29, projecting from the side of the frame, thus shortening the distance between the fixed pin 28 and the lever and moving the pawl 23 to releasing position, so that the bed may be adjusted.

On reference to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the side bars 1 are connected by a crossbar 30, to which are secured a number of eyebolts or similar guides 31. These guides are adapted for the reception of small rods 32, the upper ends of which are pivotally connected to the springmattress at a point where the mattress should bend to form distinct seat and back portions when the device is adjusted to position for use as a chair. The lower ends of the rods 32 terminate in hooks 33, so that during the adjustment to chair position the gradually-increasing distance of the upper ends of the rods from the cross-bar will. bring the hooks 33 into engagement with the guides 31, and further movement of the connected portion of the mattress will be prevented. When themattress is in horizontal position, the rods are free to slide and do not in any manner interfere with free movement of the mattress under-the weight of the occupant.

When adjusting the bed to position for use as a chair, it is further necessary to provide for the bending of the mattress at the juncture of the seat'and foot sections and to provide for taking up the slack which results from the approach of the end rails toward each other during this adjustment. In the present instance this is provided for by a cross-bar 35, extending between links 36,

which are pivoted at one end to pins 37 on the inner side of the foot member 7 of the bed, and the central portions of these levers are connected by links 38 to pivot-studs 39, carried by the rigid frame 1. The effect of the adjustment of the bed to position for use as a chair is to elevate the cross-bar from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that illustrated in Fig. 4, forming a distinct bend in the mattress and separating the seat-section from the footsection and at the same time forming a nec essary support for the front end of the seat. When adjusted to normal position for use as a bed, the bar 35 assumes a position a sufficient distance below the mattress to prevent contact with the latter under any ordinary weight.

The headboard 40 has its outer or upper surface suitably finished to form a table or desk and is connected by side links 41 to the members 6 of the head-section, said links resting on pins 42 when the headboard is in position, and the pivotal connection between the links and the sides of the headboard being about midway of the vertical height of the members 6 and the connected end rail, so that when adjusted to position the headboard will be firmly held in place.

The footboard 4-4 is a construction similar to that of the headboard and is connected by links 45 to the foot-sections 7, the links normally resting on pins 46, extending from the sides of said foot-sections.

The device is provided with'strips 48, pivoted at one end to the members 6 and at the opposite end connected by links 49 to the stationary portion of the frame, lateral play of thelinks being prevented by guard-strips 50, secured to the frame and engaging the inner faces of the links. The strips 48 when the device is adjusted to position for use as a bed are seated in alining recess formed in the seatsections 5 and the head-sections 6 and serve to cover the space necessarily formed at the juncture of the members 5 and 6, preserving the continuity of the side rails of the bed and tending in a measure tohold the same rigid. When adjusted to position for use as a chair,

the links 49 force the strips up to a position Hi u 20 farm a 1 wfs her alive c0:

and nwvaz d I, i: tws

60 wii gular relation to form a chair-frame, movable arms connected to two of said members, a headboard movable into parallel relation with the arms, locking-bolts carried by said headboard, links pivotally connecting said headboard to one of the frame members, and boltreceiving openings arranged in said links,

substantially as specified.

8. In a device of the class specified, a sectional frame comprising a plurality of hinged connected to two of said members and each provided with a pin-receiving opening, a footboard,links connecting the footboard to one of the end members of the frame, and pins carried-by said footboard and openings in said arms.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signatureln the presence of two witnesses.

VVALIER CLAIR SENNE'IT. Witnesses:

Lmyvoon. F. CROOKETT, CHARLOTTEHM'. WINSLOW' adapted to the 

